Internal combustion engine crankcase with dry-sump lubrication

ABSTRACT

A crankcase for an internal combustion engine, particularly with dry-sump lubrication in which the crankcase bottom part forms at least one space for the sump of the lubricant in which are arranged two or several suction places, of which at least two suction places are connected with separate suction pumps and are arranged at a place of the suction space which is a relatively lower place for a predetermined inclined position of the engine.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Herbert Deutschmann [56] References Cited Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt; N D STATES PATENTS Juergen Wahnschaffe, Stuttgart- Stammheim; Wolfgang Rude", Grunbach 2,3 74,822 5/1945 Lecla r 184/(6UX) 2,440,815 5/1948 Wharam 184/6 Krels WaIbhngen; Herbert Mader, 2,550,967 5/1951 Burks et al.... l84/(6UX) Stut gart, Germany 2,874,804 2/1959 Haas 184/6 [21] Appl. No. 747,362

2,913,069 11/1959 KUblS 184/6 [22] Had My 1968 3 189 126 6/1965 May 184/6 [45] Patented Jan. 12, 1971 [73] Assignee Daimler-Benz Aktiengesellschalt FOREIGN PATENTS Stuttgart-Unterturkheim, Germany 1,483,050 4/1967 France 184/6 [32] Priority July 26, 1967 1,034,239 6/1966 Great Britain 184/6 3 $222 52 Primary Examiner-Manuel A. Antonakas 1 Altomey-Craig, Antonelli, Stewart & Hill 1 CRANKCASE ABSTRACT: A crankcase for an internal combustion engine, 26 Cl particularly with dry-sump lubrication in which the crankcase rawmg bottom part forms at least one space for the sump of the lubri- {52] US. Cl. 184/6, cant in which are arranged two or several suction places, of 123/196 which at least two suction places are connected with separate [51 Int. Cl F0lm l/12 suction pumps and are arranged at a place of the suction space [50] Field of Search 184/6T, 6B,

which is a relatively lower place for a predetermined inclined position of the engine.

PATEN TEU JAN 1' 2 IBTI INVENTORS mam DEUTSCHMANN JURGEN WAHNSCHAFFFE WOLFGANG RUDERT HERBERT MADER 641 8 /9 ATTORNEYS 1 INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE cRnNKcAsE wmi DRY-SUM! LUBRICATION The present invention relates to a crankcase for an internal combustion engine, especially with dry-sump lubrication.

The aim underlying the present invention essentially resides in-so constructing the c 'ankcase that the lubrication of them ternal combustion engine is assured also in the operating positions of the housing deviating from the normal, horizontal mined engine inclination. According to the present invention,

the suction places are so arranged that at least oneof the suction pumps sucks off the lubricant in the inclined operating positions of the internal combustion engine. An advantage of this arrangement resides in the factthat the housing bottom' part can be constructed relatively low, i. e., flat, without a riseof the oil level in the inclined position to a nonpermissive extent.

For purposes of assuring the lubricant supply with inclined positions of the engine, in which the longitudinal axis of the crankcase is inclined, at least one suction place having its own suction pump may be arranged at each ofthe two space ends disposed .one behind the other in the space longitudinal direction. k i

During mountain dri'vin'gof a cross country vehicle, the suction place provided at the'rear end ofthesuction space would then be efiectivewhereas-depending onthe grade, the suction p'ump connected with the forwardisuction place would suck off air and therewith would be ineffectual;

in order to eliminate disturbances and failures of the engine lubrication by inclinations of the crankcase about the housing longitudinal axis, at least two suction places of a sump'space maybe arranged witha separate suctionpump'each on different sides of the longitudinal axis.

In oneembodiment of a crankcaseaccording to the present invention, one or several pairs of suctionplaces areprovided pumps, both suction .pl'aces'with one pump each. Each suction place of a respective pair is arranged both at a different lonin-a sump space. Each pair is connected withtwo suction gitudinal end of the suction space as well as on a different side of the space longitudinal axis. In this manner, lubricantcan be sucked out of the sump space with nearly all-inclined positions without the necessity places.

With very long internal spaces arrangedone behindthe other in the housing longitudinal axis. The necessary lubricant drop to the suction places is reduced thereby.. According to a "further feature and development of such. a crankcase, suction pumps are economized in that-suction placesarranged on the same-side for more than one such pair of suction combustion engines; it is of advantage if the housing bottom partis subdivided into two sump of the housing longitudinal axis from both suction spaces are connected with a common suction pumprln order-to avoid thereby that with an inclined housing longitudinal axis all 'suction pumps suck in air, the arrangement may be so made that the suction places from both sump spaces with a'commonsuc tion p'uinp'are arranged at the same'longitudinal' ends-i.e., at the forward or rearward longitudinal end *of the respective suction spacei in order that the suction placesare acted upon by the lubri-' *cant over the entire suction cross section also in case of For purposes of reducing the line losses, the interior housing line section may extend transversely to the housing longitudinal axis between the suction place and the aperture in the housing wall for the passage of the line.

In order to achieve short lines within the crankcase,according to a further feature and development of the present invention, the suction places and their communicating passage apertures in the housing wall may be arranged on the same side of the housing longitudinal axis. A further advantage of this arrangement resides in that the housing line with inclined positions of the engines is located in the natural flow direction of the flowing-ofi lubricant. With pumps arranged atthe outer walls of the crankcase relatively long'line sections may also be arranged at the housing outer walls.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention'to provide a crankcase for internal combustion engines especially bustion engine also in operating positions of the crankcase housing differing from the normal position thereof.

A further object of the presentinvention resides in a drysump lubrication for intemal'combustion' engines which assures adequate lubrication under alloperating conditions, irrespective of the position of the crankcase.

Still a further-object of the present invention resides in a crankcase construction for internal combustion engines of the type described above in which the necessary drop of the lubricant to the suction places is reduced.

Still another object of the present invention resides 'in a crankcase for internal combustion engines, especially with dry sump lubrication which not only permits a relatively flat construction of the crankcase, important particularly for crosscountry-type vehicles, but also assures that the suction cross sections are acted upon by the lubricant overthe entire cross section thereof even with an inclined'longitudinal axis of the crankcase housing.

Still a further object-of the present invention resides in a crankcase for internal combustion engines with dry-sump lubrication which achieves all of'the aforementioned aims and objects with extraordinarily simple means while at the same the crankcase bottom part "of FIG. l, taken along line ill-ll; Opp FlG. 3 is a schematic partial longitudinal crosssection 'throughia modified embodiment of a crankcasebottom part according to the present invention; and -0pp FIG. 4 is-arsc'he- -matic planview of the crankcase bottompartof-FIG. '3.

Referring now'to the drawing wherein like reference numerals are used throughout the various views redesignatealike parts, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and '2, the-crankcase bottom part-generally designated by reference :numeral "'10 ril- Justrated in these FIGS includes asingle.interior-sumpspace 11, at the bottom l2of which are provided two suctiontplaces generally designated by 'referencenumerals 13 and 14. Each suctionxplace lit-and 14 is connected with its ownsuction pump generally designated byreference numerals :15 and 16,

respectively. The pumps 1 5 and 16 are secured externaliyat the housingsidewall 17 in a conventional manner, "not illustrated in the drawingrand supply or .feed thelubricating'oil from the sumpspace 11 into -an-oil tank (not shown). From this oil tank, the lubricating oil is fed to the lubricating-places by 'pressure'pumpsin a conventional manner.

H6. 2 is a schematic partial cross sectional view through The suction places 13 and 14 form a pair, of which each suction place 13 and 14 is arranged on a different side of the housing longitudinal axis 18 is also at a different longitudinal end 19 and 20 of the space 11, respectively. Each suction place 13 and 14 of this pair of suction places is connected with its own suction pump and 16, respectively for pumping or returning the lubricating oil to a collection sump 25, which is known in conventional try sump lubrication arrangements.

The apertures 21 of the suction places 13 and 14 terminating in the sump extend transversely to the axis 18. The inner housing channels or lines 22 between the suction places 13 and 14 and their passage apertures 23 in the housing sidewalls 24 and 17 also extend in the same transverse direction.

The crankcase bottom part generally designated by reference numeral 30 of FIGS. 3 and 4 is subdivided by a cross wall 45 at the housing bottom 32 into two suction spaces 31a and 31b disposed behind one another in the housing longitudinal axis 38. One pair each of suction places 31a, 34a and 33b, 34b is arranged in the spaces 31a and 31b, respectively. Each suction place 33a and 34a as well as 33b and 34b of a respective pair is connected with a separate suction pump generally designated by reference numerals 35 and 36. The pumps 35 and 36 are again secured externally at the housing sidewall 37 in any conventional manner. Each pair of suction places of the bottom part 30 is characterized in that the two associated suction places of the bottom part 30 is characterized in that the two associated suction places 33a and 34a or 33b are arranged both on different sides of the housing longitudinal axis 38 as also at different longitudinal ends 39 and 45 or 45 and 40 of the respective space 31a and 31b, respectively.

If the subdivision of the housing bottom part 30 by the cross wall 45 with the additional suction places 34a and 33b were missing, then an imaginary drop, indicated by H, would be necessary for the movement of the lubricating particles to the remaining suction places 33a and 34b. By the illustrated and described subdivision of the housing bottom part 30, as shown in FIG. 3, the drop H is reduced to the smaller value h The oil sump becomes flatter as a result thereof, and the crankcase can be constructed and designed lower.

As can be seen from FIG. 4, two suction places 33a and 33b or 34a and 34b of different suction spaces 31a and 31b arranged on the same side of the axis 38 are connected to a common suction pump 35 and 36, respectively.

The suction places 33a and 33b of the pump 35 are arranged at the forward longitudinal ends 39 and 45 of the spaces 31a and 3112 whereas the suction places 34a and 34b are arranged at the rear longitudinal ends 45 and 40 of the spaces 31a and 31b. It is always assured by this arrangement that with an inclination of the longitudinal axis 38, lubricant is sucked off both sump spaces 31a and 31b, and more particularly, essentially without air.

While we have shown and described two embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known to a person skilled in the art and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are encompassed by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A crankcase for an internal combustion engine with dry sump lubrication, wherein the improvement comprises a relatively flat crankcase bottom part provided with at least one space for the lubricant sump having disposed therein at least two suction places at substantially the same level, at least two of said suction places being operatively connected with separate suction pump means for return of a lubricant to a collection sump and being each arranged at a place of the sump space constituting a lower space for a predetennined inclined position of the engine.

2. A crankcase according to claim 1, wherein at least two suction places of a respective sump space are arranged with separate suction pump means on different sides of the longitudinal axis of the space.

3. A crankcase for an internal combustion engine with drysump lubrication, wherein the improvement comprises a relatively flat crankcase bottom part provided with at least one space for the lubricant sump having at least two suction places at substantially the same level, at least two of said suction places being operatively connected with separate suction pump means, and being each arranged at a place of the sump space constituting a lower space for a predetermined inclined position of the engine, wherein at least two suction places of a respective sump are arranged with separate suction pump means on different sides of the longitudinal axis of the space, characterized by at least one pair of suction places in each sum space, each pair being operatively connected with two suction pump means, one suction pump means for each suction place, and each suction place of a respective pair being arranged at a different longitudinal end of the sump space and on a different side of the space longitudinal axis.

4. A crankcase according to claim 3, wherein the housing bottom part is subdivided into two sump spaces arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal axis of the housing.

5. A crankcase according to claim 4, wherein the suction places arranged on the same side of the housing longitudinal axis from both sump spaces are operatively connected with a common suction pump means.

6. A crankcase according to claim 5, wherein the suction places from both sump spaces operatively connected with a common suction pump means are arranged at the same longitudinal ends.

7. A crankcase according to claim 6, wherein the last-mentioned suction places of both sump spaces connected with a common suction pump means are arranged at a respective one of the forward and rearward longitudinal ends of the corresponding space.

8. A crankcase according to claim 6, wherein each suction place is provided with an aperture terminating in the sump which extends transversely to the housing longitudinal axis.

9. A crankcase according to claim 8, wherein the suction pump means are arranged at the outer wall of the crankcase.

10. A crankcase according to claim 9, further comprising inner housing line means between a respective suction place and the corresponding passage opening in the housing wall and extending substantially transversely to the housing longitudinal axis.

11. A crankcase according to claim 10, wherein the suction place and its communicating passage aperture in the housing wall are arranged on the same side of the housing longitudinal axis.

12. A crankcase for an internal combustion engine with drysump lubrication, wherein the improvement comprises a relatively flat crankcase bottom part provided with at least one space for the lubricant sump having at least two suction places at substantially the same level, at least two of said suction places being operatively connected with separate suction pump means and being each arranged at a place of the sump space constituting a lower space for a predetermined inclined position of the engine, characterized by at least one pair of suction places in each sump space, each pair being operatively connected with two suction pump means, one suction pump means for each suction place, and each suction place of a respective pair being arranged at a different longitudinal end of the sump space and on a different side of the space longitudinal axis.

13. A crankcase according to claim 12, wherein the housing bottom part is subdivided into two sump spaces arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal axis of the housing.

14. A crankcase according to claim 13, wherein the suction places arranged on the same side of the housing longitudinal axis from both sump spaces are operatively connected with a common suction pump means.

15. A crankcase according to claim 14, wherein the suction places from both sum spaces operatively connected with a common suction pump means are arranged at the same longitudinal ends.

16. A crankcase according to claim l2,'wherein each suction place is provided with an aperture terminating in the sump which extends transversely torthe housing longitudinal axis.

17. A crankcase according to claim 1, wherein the suction pump means are arranged at the outer wall of the crankcase.

.18. A crankcase according to claim 16, further comprising inner housing line means between a respective suction place and the corresponding passage opening in the housing wall and extending substantially transversely to the housing longitudinal axis.

19. A crankcase according to claim 18, wherein the suction place and its communicating passage aperture in the housing wall are arranged on the same side of the housing longitudinal axis.

20. A crankcase according to claim 1,.wherein the housing bottom part is subdivided into two sump spaces arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal axis of the housing.

21. A crankcase according to claim 20,'wherein the suction places arranged on the same side of the housing longitudinal axis from both sump spaces are operatively connected with a common suction pump means.

22. A crankcase according to claim 20, wherein the suction places from both sump spaces operatively connected with a common suction pump means are arranged at the same longitudinal ends.

23. A crankcase according to claim 22, wherein the lastmentioned suction places of both sump spaces connected with a common suction pump means are arranged at a respective one of the forward and rearward longitudinal ends of the corresponding space. a

24. A crankcase according to claim 1. wherein each suction place is provided with an aperture terminating in the sump which extends transversely to the housing longitudinal axis.

25. A crankcase according to claim I, further comprising inner housing line means between a respective suction place and the corresponding passage opening in the housing wall and extending substantially transversely to the housing longitudinal axis. 1

26. A crankcase according to claim 25, wherein the suction place and its communicating passage aperture in the housing wall are arranged on the same side of the housing longitudinal axis. 

1. A crankcase for an internal combustion engine with dry sump lubrication, wherein the improvement comprises a relatively flat crankcase bottom part provided with at least one space for the lubricant sump having disposed therein at least two suction places at substantially the same level, at least two of said suction places being operatively connected with separate suction pump means for return of a lubricant to a collection sump and being each arranged at a place of the sump space constituting a lower space for a predetermined inclined position of the engine.
 2. A crankcase according to claim 1, wherein at least two suction places of a respective sump space are arranged with separate suction pump means on different sides of the longitudinal axis of the space.
 3. A crankcase for an internal combustion engine with dry-sump lubrication, wherein the improvement comprises a relatively flat crankcase bottom part provided with at least one space for the lubricant sump having at least two suction places at substantially the same level, at least two of said suction places being operatively connected with separate suction pump means, and being each arranged at a place of the sump space constituting a lower space for a predetermined inclined position of the engine, wherein at least two suction places of a respective sump are arranged with separate suction pump means on different sides of the longitudinal axis of the space, characterized by at least one pair of suction places in each sum space, each pair being operatively connected with two suction pump means, one suction pump means for each suction place, and each suction place of a respective pair being arranged at a different longitudinal end of the sump space and on a different side of the space longitudinal axis.
 4. A crankcase according to claim 3, wherein the housing bottom part is subdivided into two sump spaces arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal axis of the housing.
 5. A crankcase according to claim 4, wherein the suction places arranged on the same side of the housing longitudinal axis from both sump spaces are operatively connected with a common suction pump means.
 6. A crankcase according to claim 5, wherein the suction places from both sump spaces operatively connected with a common suction pump means are arranged at the same longitudinal ends.
 7. A crankcase according to claim 6, wherein the last-mentioned suction places of both sump spaces connected with a common suction pump means are arranged at a respective one of the forward and rearward longitudinal ends of the corresponding space.
 8. A crankcase according to claim 6, wherein each suction place is provided with an aperture terminating in the sump which extends transversely to the Housing longitudinal axis.
 9. A crankcase according to claim 8, wherein the suction pump means are arranged at the outer wall of the crankcase.
 10. A crankcase according to claim 9, further comprising inner housing line means between a respective suction place and the corresponding passage opening in the housing wall and extending substantially transversely to the housing longitudinal axis.
 11. A crankcase according to claim 10, wherein the suction place and its communicating passage aperture in the housing wall are arranged on the same side of the housing longitudinal axis.
 12. A crankcase for an internal combustion engine with dry-sump lubrication, wherein the improvement comprises a relatively flat crankcase bottom part provided with at least one space for the lubricant sump having at least two suction places at substantially the same level, at least two of said suction places being operatively connected with separate suction pump means and being each arranged at a place of the sump space constituting a lower space for a predetermined inclined position of the engine, characterized by at least one pair of suction places in each sump space, each pair being operatively connected with two suction pump means, one suction pump means for each suction place, and each suction place of a respective pair being arranged at a different longitudinal end of the sump space and on a different side of the space longitudinal axis.
 13. A crankcase according to claim 12, wherein the housing bottom part is subdivided into two sump spaces arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal axis of the housing.
 14. A crankcase according to claim 13, wherein the suction places arranged on the same side of the housing longitudinal axis from both sump spaces are operatively connected with a common suction pump means.
 15. A crankcase according to claim 14, wherein the suction places from both sum spaces operatively connected with a common suction pump means are arranged at the same longitudinal ends.
 16. A crankcase according to claim 12, wherein each suction place is provided with an aperture terminating in the sump which extends transversely to the housing longitudinal axis.
 17. A crankcase according to claim 1, wherein the suction pump means are arranged at the outer wall of the crankcase.
 18. A crankcase according to claim 16, further comprising inner housing line means between a respective suction place and the corresponding passage opening in the housing wall and extending substantially transversely to the housing longitudinal axis.
 19. A crankcase according to claim 18, wherein the suction place and its communicating passage aperture in the housing wall are arranged on the same side of the housing longitudinal axis.
 20. A crankcase according to claim 1, wherein the housing bottom part is subdivided into two sump spaces arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal axis of the housing.
 21. A crankcase according to claim 20, wherein the suction places arranged on the same side of the housing longitudinal axis from both sump spaces are operatively connected with a common suction pump means.
 22. A crankcase according to claim 20, wherein the suction places from both sump spaces operatively connected with a common suction pump means are arranged at the same longitudinal ends.
 23. A crankcase according to claim 22, wherein the last-mentioned suction places of both sump spaces connected with a common suction pump means are arranged at a respective one of the forward and rearward longitudinal ends of the corresponding space.
 24. A crankcase according to claim 1, wherein each suction place is provided with an aperture terminating in the sump which extends transversely to the housing longitudinal axis.
 25. A crankcase according to claim 1, further comprising inner housing line means between a respective suction place and the corresponding passage opening in the housing wall and extending substantially transversely to the housing longitudinal axis.
 26. A crankcase according to claim 25, wherein the suction place and its communicating passage aperture in the housing wall are arranged on the same side of the housing longitudinal axis. 